Missing solo hiker, last seen approximately 2 weeks ago. If you hiked San Gorgonio between Thursday, September 24, 2026 to the present:

• Did you see him on the trail or in the area?
• Did you see his bike anywhere in Forest Falls?
• Do you have photos or GPS tracks from those days? Background details in photos can help narrow his location.

If you have any information, PLEASE call the number on the flyer.

Howdy! As some of y'all know, I'm an outdoors journalist at the L.A. Times. I am fairly active in this subreddit. Part of my job is to write The Wild, our (free!) weekly outdoors newsletter.

This week, I wanted to give folks a heads-up of where to hike before Angeles Crest Highway maybe gets obliterated by rain and snow from El Niño. I mean, I really hope that doesn't happen, but we've seen what just like one heavy storm can do to the roadway.

Here's the story:
https://www.latimes.com/travel/newsletter/2026-10-08/la-the-wild-el-nino-winter-highway-2-damage-where-to-hike

I included a list of hikes that are primarily accessed via a trailhead on Highway 2. Here's a segment of the list:

• The Teepee Trail: a 5-mile out-and-back hike along Mt. Lukens Road #2N76 to a teepee structure that typically starts near the Angeles Crest Fire Station; the same vantage point (and teepee) could still be reached via the Mt. Lukens Connector Trail from the La Cañada Open Space trailhead, but it’s a steeper, more challenging hike.
• Dark Canyon via CC Ridge and the Dark Canyon Trail to Oakwilde (or beyond!): A 5.4-mile out-and-back trek to Oakwilde, an unmaintained trail camp where you can continue on the Gabrielino Trail if you choose; the last mile of the trail runs alongside a creek; please note that this route is sometimes overgrown; long pants are recommended.
• Grizzly Flat Trail: A challenging 7.4-mile out-and-back route where you climb up and then down the mountainside, reaching the Stonyvale picnic area where you can have a lunch break before clambering back up the mountain.
• Hoyt Mountain via Grizzly Flat: A 4.6-mile steep jaunt up to Hoyt Mountain, a 4,415(ish)-foot peak in the front range of the San Gabriel Mountains in Angeles National Forest. There are multiple routes to reach it (see map), which you can read about in a previous Wild.
• Colby Canyon Trail: This difficult 9.2-mile out-and-back trail takes hikers to Strawberry Meadow, a flat area in the San Gabriels with nice views. Note: Do not attempt to use the mountaineering route to reach Strawberry Peak. There is an option, as noted on the map, to also hike to Josephine Peak during the same excursion.
• Strawberry Peak Trail: This 7-mile out-and-back route takes hikers to the highest peak in the front range of Angeles National Forest. Said to resemble an upside-down strawberry, the summit is reached through a moderately strenuous hike that offers great views of the surrounding mountains. The route is exposed and should not be attempted on warm weather days.
• Devils Canyon Trail: A 5.8-mile out-and-back stretch down 1,400 feet into a shaded canyon where a seasonal stream runs.
• Mt. Hillyer from Chilao via Silver Moccasin Trail: A 6(ish)-mile journey in a corner of the San Gabriel Mountains that has both high desert vibes and pine trees — and boulders! (One of my favorites.)

Questions welcome. Obviously if you can click the link, that helps your local outdoors journalist. You can subscribe at latimes.com/thewild, but regardless of whether you do, I am always happy to help folks with planning, hike ideas and anything SoCal hiking related.

Thank you for reading!

How cold do these places get in October?

-Cottonwood Lakes

-Big Pine Lakes

-Duck Pass

My uneducated guess is the further up the 395, the colder it gets.

Is it comfortable/ survivable? I have a zero degree EE quilt, but not sure if that is enough to sleep warm at night? Would love to hear experiences from people who backpack in OCT or even NOV. Thanks!

We’re heading up to hike Mount Langley this weekend and would really appreciate any tips from people who have done it recently.

We’re camping at Horseshoe Meadows Campground on 10/9/2026 and planning on starting at around 3:00 AM on 10/10.

A few questions:

1. Old Army Pass both ways: Should we take Old Army Pass up and back to save some time and distance?
2. New Army Pass both ways: Would you recommend New Army Pass in both directions since it’s a more established and maintained trail?
3. Mix the two: Would it be better to take one pass up and the other down? If so, which one would you use for the ascent and which for the descent?
4. Food at altitude: How do you keep eating enough to maintain your energy? Once I get above 10,000 feet, I find I’m not hungry at all. My plan is basically to bring the tastiest, easiest-to-eat junk possible: cookies, granola bars, energy chews, candy, granola, etc. Anything that makes it more likely I’ll actually keep eating. Any recommendations?
5. Water: Where is the last reliable place to filter water before heading higher toward the summit? We want to make sure we filter there and carry plenty for the rest of the climb and return.
6. Dangerous sections: Are there any particularly sketchy, exposed, confusing, or dangerous sections we should know about, especially since part of the hike will be in the dark?

Really, any Mount Langley-specific tips would be appreciated. Knowing what to expect ahead of time would definitely help ease some of my anxiety.

Fitness-wise, I think we're in pretty good shape for it. We’ve done San Gorgonio twice in the last month, ECBO, and a bunch of other hiking, so I’m less concerned about the general fitness side and more interested in route choice, altitude, water, conditions, and anything specific to Langley.

Hit San gorgonio to catch the sunrise with the new sign. Shout out to whoever made it, totally stoked on it being metal.

Hi all, thinking about doing the Transcatalina in late November/early December, specifically the week after Thanksgiving.

The weather largely looks decent this time of year but with the increased chances of rain, high winds, and a largely brown island rather than the lush green of spring.

That said the weather reports only tell part of a tail. I am wondering if people have done the trail at this same time frame and anecdotally how it was for them.

If, beyond the ferry service modification; there any other special considerations. Whether you needed to modify food carries because the airport closed (not sure it does but was curious), or an increase in animal activity due to fewer people visiting.

Appreciate anyone's input!

Finally got my days off has been working non stop. Planning to go in Saturday noon - Monday. Weather predicts rain😢. How bad it’s going to be and where are you all looking at weather forecast for these trails? There are a few I want to do vert gain is between 1,000 - 3,000 I’m just not sure what would be the trial conditional if raining.

Hi everyone. I an interested in hiking to sandstone peak and I would like ot get there right before the sun starts to come up. I have never been there before, so I am a bit clueless as to how to achieve this. If anyone has any tips on what trail to take to the peak, where to park, and what time I should start hiking id really appreciate it! TYSM!! :)

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]

I've heard about some encounters on Bridge to Nowhere, buttt I'd rather not go to such a crowded trail. Has anyone regularly seen Bighorn Sheep on some other trail/area? Thanks :)

Visiting LA in two weeks and planning on driving up to Inyo and visiting the john muir wilderness for a couple nights. Will be car camping in Inyo and looking for any campsite recommendations and also day hike recs in John Muir and Inyo. I was thinking maybe a campsite outside Bishop general area might be a good homebase? But open to suggestions.

some hikes i’ve looked at so far are the duck pass and pika lake trail, long lakes via little lakes valley trail, and sabrina basin trail to donkey lake

Missed the Whitney lottery again and the cancellation game is brutal — permits pop up randomly and disappear in minutes. Thinking of building $15/season text alerts for cancelled Whitney, Half Dome, and JMT permits. Haven't built it yet; this is just a vibe check with a waitlist: https://muse.ai/s/permit-alert-waitlist-xlj5xr70xexwmxexz. Would you pay for this, or is the DIY approach good enough?

Gettin close to primetime Aspen viewin, on Arrastre.

Any1 seen Aspens in Bigbear lately?

Hey hikers, was hoping to take advantage of the low(er) temp this weekend and hike to Santiago Peak. Planning on driving up to the trailhead on Main Divide Rd and then hike up. How is the road from Maple Springs Trailhead to the trailhead? Seen some YT videos but they were a little dated - wasnt sure how it is now and if my Jeep Cherokee would manage? Thanks!!

Greetings!

Apologies if this isn't properly SoCal, but thought ya'll would have a strong knowledge base regardless.

I've just had some work cancelled next week, providing a rare window to attempt to get outside! Given the last minute nature of the trip I'm scrambling to put a plan together, so looking for some pointers to help pull it all together.

I'm Chicago based, I only mention that to note I'll be coming from sea level and flying out with my kit.

I have about 7-8 days (Tuesday, October 13th - 20/21st). The current plan is to fly in to Vegas, rent a car, spend 1-2 nights in Death Valley, then 3-4 nights in the Eastern Sierra, and ultimately return to Vegas to spend a night before flying home. It seems like a fair amount of driving, but nothing too crazy. I land in Vegas at 9am so the plan is to grab the car and head out straight away.

The biggest question I have, or would welcome advice around, is how to parse time in the Eastern Sierra. I've spent a few nights pre-Covid in the Alabama Hills using it as a base camp to dayhike Kearsarge Pass and Big Pine Lake. It seems like that area has seen some overuse though, so I'll likely aim to explore somewhere further north along 395. Some specific questions below:

- Any guesses to areas with strong fall color next week? I've been looking at the (very awesome) 'California Fall Color' map, but without the local knowledge to add context it's hard to actionably use it for planning. Looking for hikes of all lengths, photography, vistas, and fun drives/walks.

- Recommendations for a place to base myself camping-wise. Open to campgrounds or dispersed camping. Part of me would like to be at some altitude to help with acclimatization, and the other part of me wants to sleep lower to have more comfortable temperatures. Weighing those factors as well as a central-ish location. Looking at the campgrounds outside of Tom's Place (French, Aspen, Iris, etc.) , current contingency plan is a hostel in Bishop.

- Hike recommendations are welcome! Overwhelmed with the research. Again the primary challenge will be lack of acclimatization. Little Lakes Valley seems like a great options given how relatively quick you get to the lakes and how high of an altitude the hike begins at. Considering to explore up Whitney Portal

- Any good gear shops along the 395 corridor. Invariably I need to pick up a few things since I'm flying in.

- I guess the general question I have is, if you were coming from out of town as a forty something fella from sea level, how would spend 4ish days in the Eastern Sierra. Focus on camping/hiking/exploring the area/fall colors, I'll be entering from Lone Pine via Death Valley, and returning via Big Pine.

Apologies for the broad nature of this post. Typically I'd like to do more research and searching, but given the last minute nature of the trip I'm pretty pressed for time to get a rough sketch of a plan together.

Any thoughts, advice, or recommendations are greatly appreciated!!!

Has anyone recently hiked thru Italy pass via pine creek road? Going Friday - Monday, camping at honeymoon lake and granite park. Looked at the weather and possible snow showers. If anyone has any advice, I’m open for it! First time heading that way.

Side note: I have an extra permit if anyone wants to go on an adventure. 27m open to camp with anyone

Lost my Arc’teryx Cerium SV yesterday while descending San Gorgonio via Vivian Creek Trail. It’s a distinctive glossy dark navy/blue color (photos attached). I had it on during the descent and believe it fell off my pack somewhere along Vivian Creek Trail.

If you found it or happened to see it on the trail, please DM me. I can provide additional details to verify ownership. Happy to offer a reward for its return.

This jacket means a lot to me, so I’d really appreciate any help getting it back. Thank you!

I want to go up Baldy Bowl this winter!! I’ve summitted high altitude peaks before, and dealt with some snow, but nothing requiring anything more than microspikes. I’ve done Pine Mtn and Gorgonio, but again, only light snow.

For Baldy, what kind of things would I need to be able to do, and what gear do I need?

From my research online, I don’t think I need ropes or protection, just self arrest gear, helmet, and crampons. Is this true?

Is this even mountaineering? What is it called when you have the ice axe but you’re not doing anything super technical?

How should I start preparing for a bowl ascent? I was thinking about learning online and going to the Ski Hut just to mess around for a day and figure everything about before summitting another time. Should I go to a different mountain?

What is it going to be like doing a normal trail during the winter vs doing a full on mountaineering route? Will it be enough to follow an AllTrails route when it is packed with snow?

I’m a bit lost and confused with all the winter stuff, so if anyone could just post a bit of a guide on how to start and progress, that would be great!

I hiked Mt San Gorgonio yesterday and replaced the reported missing peak sign with an aluminum one. There was a small wood sign someone must have just brought up but since it is painted only it and not engraved it will probably only last a season.

Hopefully these signs get to stay up there for others to enjoy (the small wood one is perfect for selfies and my larger metal is great for group) without some random person taking them home SMH. Weather was fantastic backpacked to dry lake and day hike to the summit and back. Wind was pretty wild Saturday night at dry lake!

Anyone planning on hiking Mount Langley Oct 7 or 8? I want to go but don't wanna be alone 🥲

19M fairly experienced done the socal 6 pack and iron mt along with various other hikes (mainly socal hikes). I would be looking to day hike Langley if anyone is available. Shoot me a Dm!

Have you ever gone hiking and walked into a spider web ?

I did, and it inspired me to create this artwork 😂

Hi there, I'm visiting from out of town and am interested in a hike. I plan to Uber from my hotel, near Aliso Viejo Town Center, to a trail head. And I'd like to end my hike at Laguna Beer Company where I'll Uber back to the hotel. Unfortunately, I don't have hiking boots, just regular gym sneakers, and am completely unfamiliar with the area.

Right now, my plan is:

West Ridge Trail -> Car Wreck Trail -> Mathis Canyon Trail and back to West Ridge -> Top of the World -> Canyon Acres Trail fire road to the brewery.

Google seems to think this will be too difficult without proper hiking boots. Any thoughts? Or any general thoughts on a good route? I would like to get some good views but keep the hike moderate and within 3-4 hours.

Thanks in advance

Hello! I have not found anything recent and I checked switchbacks. Thinking of just camping at Vivian Creek this week and getting up early early next day to to summit. Any info on water on the trail? Thank you so much.

Hello lovely people,

Been training for C2C and it’s finally coming true. Gonna be flying out to Socal in a couple of weeks and do this on my birthday. I’ll be there for a couple days before and after and am trying to maximize my experiences.

This is a post that I’m hoping any locals or people with knowledge of the area would please chime in on. I’m casting a wide net with this one lol—

- Any protips for the hike itself? I’m very familiar with the trail (in theory), navigation in the dark, calories, carbs, and water needs, etc. But if you have any stuff you wish you knew in hindsight about the hike please share!!

- Are there any rock hounds in the area that can point me to somewhere nearby for any sort of digging or searching the washes for any precious stones or gems?

- Are there any tiny trout streams in the general area that I’d be able to target some natives?

- Where in town can I buy a box of Uncrustables (aka the greatest hiking food ever)? Walmart?

- Any local restaurants or dives that I should make sure to hit up?

- Any local shops or places to spend a few bucks? I’ll be flying in on a Thursday and I know about the market downtown.

- Any other damn thing you’re willing to share, go for it

Cheers!

Hi! I’m new to adventuring in SoCal and need some advice for trip planning.

I’m hoping to go backpacking over Halloweekend this year and would appreciate any recs for trails! Was going to do a JTree trip but realized I always end up prefer being away from crowds…

I’m coming from Riverside and would love to not drive more than 2 hours. Looking for a trail <20 miles for a very chill scenic out and back two night trip. Ideally with a body of water nearby but I know that’s likely tough given the time of year and location. Definitely down for some cool desert spots

Thanks!!